The Phillies rightfielder arrived at spring training yesterday with
long hair and a thick beard, entering the final season of a two-year,
$10 million contract. With the Phillies saying they have limited
payroll flexibility beyond the approximately $140 million currently
committed, Werth might have priced himself out of Philadelphia.

“I think everybody knows the situation,” Werth, 30, said yesterday in his first public comments on possible free agency . . . Werth said that his agent had engaged in “preliminary” talks with the
Phillies on a contract extension, but that they had amounted to
“nothing, really.”

Cliff Lee had “preliminary” talks with the Phillies too. He was shipped out of town, like, a week later. I don’t think that Werth will get the same treatment — he’s quite popular in Philly and it’s not like the Phillies can just go out and grab the a rightfield equivalent of Roy Halladay to take his place — but it’s going to be a little complicated.

My guess: Philly will look to lock him up with some sort of backloaded deal in which the real money kicks in after Raul Ibanez’s, Brad Lidge’s and maybe even Ryan Howard’s money comes off the books in 2012.

The problem with Werth for the Phillies is that pretty much all their minor league strength is in the outfield. They traded away Michael Taylor partly because they didn’t have room for him, but Dominic Brown will be ready next year and there are two pretty good looking centerfield prospects in Gillies and Gose, one of whom should be ready in 2012. If you want to remain in contention year in and year out, and the only way they can keep at 140 is if they do, then you have to let some of the older guys go, especially where you have young replacements. I think the only way they keep Werth is if they trade Victorino. We all love Werth, and he fits so well with this team, but no one wants to watch Werth and Rollins and Utley and Howard all get old together.

This would be great, during the WS i only saw two good hitters on the phillies and this guy was one of them. I hope they let him walk and throw a bunch of money at Ryan “Whiff” Howard who i wouldnt touch with a 10 foot pole. At Howard’s current strikeout rate he might take a serious run at Nolan Ryan’s record but i think he will eat himself out of the league before he reaches it. Just my opinion anyway.